George Mathews (actor)

George Mathews (October 10, 1911 – November 7, 1984) was an American actor whose career stretched from an uncredited appearance in Stage Door Canteen in 1943 to Going Home in 1971.

George Mathews
Mathews in the 1956 film The Last Wagon
Born	(1911-10-10)October 10, 1911 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	November 7, 1984(1984-11-07) (aged 73) Caesars Head, South Carolina, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1933–1972
Spouse(s)	Mary Haynsworth

Mathews was born in Brooklyn, New York.[1]

Mathews was tall (6' 1.5"). His career on stage began in the early 1930s, when he failed to get a job with the U.S. Mail. He joined the W.P.A. Theatre, and landed a role in the play Processional (1937) as Dynamite Jim.

Mathews was often cast as heavies or hardened military types. He appeared in both the stage (1942–43) and film version (1944) of The Eve of St. Mark, as Sergeant Ruby. He also portrayed comic thugs in Pat and Mike (1952), starring Katharine Hepburn, and in the Garson Kanin-directed musical comedy Do Re Mi (1960–62), as Fatso O'Rear, starring Phil Silvers. In 1962 he played Stryker in Have Gun - Will Travel, Season 6, Episode 6.[2] He also demonstrated his comedic talent in the short-lived television comedy series Glynis (1963), playing ex-cop Chick Rogers, who assists a mystery writer and amateur sleuth, played by Glynis Johns, in solving "whodunnits", He was also in the Broadway play Catch Me If You Can in 1965. Perhaps his most memorable role was as Harvey in The Bensonhurst Bomber episode of The Honeymooners. He also played the bar owner, John Shanssey, who helped Doc Holliday from hanging in "Gunfight At The OK Corral".

Mathews retired from the screen in 1972.